closed ⚡🪶 and forevermore, i'll be chasing the storm we had.

[garudas]

Who: Benedikta Harman & Cidolfus Telamon.
Status: Closed.
Where: Cid's workshop, Avaleci.
What: Cid is sad about his daughter being gone and Benedikta is horrible at being comforting. Also adventures later!
Warnings: it's cid and benna 🙂 also ffxvi spoilers, if you can find them.

ice skating, hot springs ♨️
volcano, egis 🔥
the price of freedom 🧵

Comments

[ramuhs]

A book?

[...Hmmm. If it's a book then he's certainly read quite a few, especially for Mid. Something for a little flame sprite...]

I remember a book I read to Mid once—a fairy tale about a little wizard that went on different adventures with his friends and learning how to grow stronger. His name was Vivi if I recall.

[garudas]

[There's a little lurch in her chest, something pulling at certain threads of her heart, because that had been the exact book that Benedikta had been thinking of. Funny, that...

And that he had read it to Mid... She casts a sideways glance at him again, fleeting, but long enough to try to read his expression.]

I know of that book. That was the first I had learned to read. But yes, the wizard's name was Vivi.

["You both know how to reeeeaaaaaaaad!?"]

[ramuhs]

[...Oh.

There's a slight look of surprise as he looks at Benedikta, the sprite forgotten for a moment.]

It was?

[In fairness for Cid, that was a while back and before he had paid particular attention to her. But now he wonders if he subconsciously remembered it because—]

...It was one of the first books I read to her...

[garudas]

It was.

[She doesn't hold it against him. She didn't think he would remember it, and she's honestly surprised that she did. Well, maybe not so surprised... it was the first book that she had learned, and it was over ten years ago for them. She'd rushed to him to tell him that she'd finished it all on her own, but whether he recalled the actual book or not...

Maybe it was a subconscious thing. Who is to say? But she won't linger on it for long lest his mind wanders too far back to that place she's been fighting to keep it away from.

Benedikta takes a step closer to him, careful not to step on the sprite, and bumps her shoulder with his, fingertips brushing against the back of his hand, but she keeps her eyes forward.]

What do you think of Vivi, then?

[ramuhs]

[His mind does wander a little... But her bump of the shoulder and her touch pull him back, and when he looks at her he is reminded of the night before and smiles a little, his hand swiveling so that his fingertips can meet hers instead.]

I think it would be fitting for our little sprite adventure. What say you?

[The sprite had been watching them wiiiide-eeeeyyyed before it jumps at being addressed.

"M-Me? Vivi?"

It repeats it a few time before it smiles and hops.

"Yeah, I like it!!!"]

Then that settles it. Welcome to the crew, Vivi.

[garudas]

[There's a little shrug of relief in Benedikta's shoulders when she feels his fingertips touch hers, and she laces them clumsily and lazily together, a silent show of comfort in one of the only ways she knows how.

But she does back up a little when the sprite—Vivi—begins to jump, trying to be careful not to catch her boots or pants on fire.

"Can you read the book about Vivi to me sometime?!?"

That draws a laugh out of her.]

We would have to find the book first.

[ramuhs]

[A low hum as he idly squeezes and swings their hands a little.]

I might be able to solve that problem, so you may be in luck.

[garudas]

[Vivi leaps some more, and the flames around his body flares up that it panics and stops before it sets them both on fire.]

There are plenty of other books out there that Cidolfus can read to you in the meantime. I'm sure his little band would have plenty of stories to tell, too.

[Vivi looks at her. "But what about you, Windy—er, Benedikta?"

... And she glances away.]

[ramuhs]

[...Oh ho. Just a bit of a smirk before he answers.]

She will, too.

[garudas]

I've nothing interesting to tell.

[Nothing that she wants to tell anyway. No memories or stories that she wants to revisit from the life that had been so suddenly pulled out from under her.

Still. She sighs. Ugh, why does she even care?]

Though, I suppose if stories about places outside these tunnels will do, Cidolfus and I have a few we could share together...

["Oh, yes, yes!!!" Vivi looks up at her with excitement. "I want to hear about the water world on the outside."]

[ramuhs]

[Because Cid is rubbing off on her—(and will again later—)]

Then that settles it. Once we're out of the tunnels we'll take you to the ship and get you settled. Have to drop off this "loot," anyway.

[garudas]

[The absolute worst kind of man...

And before Vivi jumps again, Benedikta looks down at him sternly.]

Don't. I'd rather not set my boots on fire.

[—and those flames dwindle a bit, but it does nothing to extinguish the excitement in his eyes.]

Do you know any shortcuts out of here?

[ramuhs]

[The little sprite perks up again.

"I do! Follow me!" And it suddenly floats up into the air, looking more like wisp of flame, and flies ahead.]

Surprisingly quick, that one.

[He then grins and swings their hands a little as they walk after it.]

Looking forward to the stories you'll be sharing.

[garudas]

[Benedikta watches with some surprise as the sprite just takes off in front of them, blinking in the air where there's a turn in the tunnel, but some of that edges off when she feels their hands swing again. Really, this man...]

They are your stories, too.

[ramuhs]

But not my perspective.

Still, surely you may have a few of your own? Can always change and embellish things, too, not like he would know the truth.

[garudas]

[She huffs.]

I do... but...

[Her hand motions to the sprite up ahead, the flames flickering with excitement still.]

I think he's far more interested in us.

[ramuhs]

Us?

[garudas]

Do not tell me you haven't noticed...

[Of course she shouldn't be surprised...]

I'm sure if that sprite could blush, it would have in that room.

[ramuhs]

I knew he was watching, but—actual interest?

[He still seemed skeptical about it.]

For what reason would it be?

[garudas]

For the same reason people enjoy romances.

[And now he is asking too many questions, so she's just going to pull him, picking up the pace, her face a touch flushed.]

Hurry up. We're keeping him waiting.

[ramuhs]

Romances—

[He's still confused, but seeing her pulling him and perhaps a bit flushed, he just stares at her for a moment before he laughs, picking up the pace to come out alongside her.]

Suppose we do have an interesting one.

[And he is going to be an absolute devil by suddenly pulling her to him, arm wrapping around her waist to catch her from tripping before he captures her lips for a sudden if brief heated kiss, one that rivals the heat of the tunnel.

And when he pulls back, he smirks.]

Give him one to remember, hm?

[garudas]

I never said we—

[Her objection is snatched away from her when she feels that pull. She's forced into a twirl, tripping over her feet until she goes tumbling into his arms. His lips crush hers so suddenly that she moans into it, confusion and heat all mixed into a single, soft sound. Brief as it is, she senses the passion deep within it, and it's over before she can fully savour the—

Gaaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssppppp!!!

Vivi's loud, echoing gasp interrupts that thought, and with her fingers still clutching his leathers for balance, she turns her gaze to the sprite, who has now floated closer, his wide yes sparkling as they appear over his small form.]

Not in front of him, Cidolfus.

[There's a brief spark that flashes in her gaze when she shoots him a look and shoves him off of her and keeps walking, bristling while she fixes the front of her clothes.]

[ramuhs]

[At that, his laughter echoes through the tunnel as he follows right after her.]

What, it wasn't too scandalous.

[Yes it was—]

[garudas]

[It was way too scandalous for inside a volcano—

"Mister Cid...Miss Benedikta..." The sprite's voice echoes from behind Benedikta as she is the one leading the way and she thinks nothing of the tentativeness in its voice when its laced with such innocence. "What does it mean when you touch your mouths together?"

She nearly chokes, and there's a sudden whipping of wind that comes from nowhere and everywhere all at once.]

[ramuhs]

[Even Cid is startled by it, but he just ends up doubling over in laughter again.

YEAH MISS BENEDIKTA WHAT DOES IT MEAN.]